Abrasive-supply tank



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,686,877

I L. D. PEIK ABRASIVE SUPPLY TANK I File'd Sept. 21, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

BY WM. M

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 9, 1928.

1,686,877 1.. D. PEIK ABRASIVE SUPPLY TANK Filed Sept. 21, 1926 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR. ri

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

*UNITED STATES I v V 1,686,877 PATENT OFFICE.

L-ours D. PEIK, or MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOBITO A ERICAN FOUNDRY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., acoarona'rroN or omo.

ABRASIVE-SUPPLY T NK;

vApplication filedSeptember 21, 1926. Serial No. 136,781.

This invention relates to sand blast systems, and more particularly to abrasive storing tanks employed therein.

Blasting equipment in accordance with the present invention may include a tank in which a supply of sand or other abrasive material to be employed in connection with the blast may be stored, and'from which it may be readily withdrawn for mixture with The tank -may be provided pose of relieving the latter of the weight ofthe column of material directly above it without impeding the flow of abrasive to the mixing chamber. By means of this shield the pressure of the abrasive material on the outlet port remains. substantially constant irrespective of the height of material contained in the tank, and the pressure required to blow back through the port is considerably less thanthatwhich would be required were the entire weight of the material contained in the-tank supported directly thereby. The shield also allows the outlet port to-be manually cleaned byproviding a space substantially free of abrasive material into which a cleaning implement action thereof. Valve 11 may be opened may be inserted Although the novel features which are believed to becharacteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevation, partly in section,

of a storage'tank constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mixing chamber and the air ducts associated therewith; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the shield for supporting the abrasive material.

r .In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to befas-generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Referring to, the figures more in detail,

the sand blast system comprises a storage tank 10 which isconstructed in the usual manner, having an inlet valve 11 through which the tank may be filled, but which is adapted to close when air pressure is applied tothe tank topermit pressure to be built up therein, Outlet port 12is provided at the lower portion of the tank10for allowing the abrasive material to flow to mixing chamber 13. Air under pressure is admittedto the mixing chamber 13 through supplypipe 14 from a source of compressed air (not shown), and, passing through the mixing chamber, picks up the abrasive material which may be contained therein and carries it through outlet pipe 15 to the blasting nozzle (not's'hown). A second supply pipe 16 is providedfor supplying an additional quantity of compressed air to the mixing.

chamber 13. I Pipe 16 permits the relative a .quantities of air and abrasive material in outlet pipe 15 to be accurately controlled. The above type of mixing chamber has been shown for purposes of illustration only.

Any other well known form may be em-- ployed ifdesired. v Compressed air from the source (not shown) may be applied-through pipe 20 to valve 11 and utilized for controlling: the

for allowing the tank to be filled withabrasive material and'th'enclosed to allow air pressuret-o be built up within the tank. In the operation of thesystem the air pressure in the upper portion of the tank above the abrasive material is preferably maintained substantially equal to the pressure applied to the mixing chamber through pipe 14:, so that the abrasive may flow by gravity to :the mixing chamber -while pressure is applied thereto.

a U-shaped shield 21 is rigidly connected tothe sideof tank 10 byrivets 22 or any other suitable means, and extends to partially cover outlet port 12 and support any material which may be contained in the tank directly above the same, of the material is carried by the'shield but In accordance with the present invention,

The direct weight the abrasive may flow around the end and sides of shield 21 into'the port 12. By prop- .erly positioning the shield for supporting the particular abrasive material employed,

the latter may be caused to readily flow past the end and sides of the shield into the IIllX lng chamber due to the effect of gravity. Smce the flow is due to the force of gravity the rate of flow is practically independent of the amount or weight '01"; material contained in the tank. A steady flow of abrasive is thereby assured to the mixing chamber irrespective of the amount of abrasive material remaining in the tank at any particular time. s

Should the material become clogged about the entrance of or within port 12, it may be agitated by blowing back through the mixing chamber up into the supply tank. In such a case,-were shield 21 omitted, it would be necessary to force the air through the entire weight of material contained in the tank, necessitating the use of a comparatively high pressure. By the present invention, the weight of the material upon port 12 is not only maintained constant but is re duced to a minimum. Consequently, in

blowing air back from the mixing chamber 1t is only necessary to supply a sufficient pressure to agitate the small amount of abrasive immediately above the outlet port.

' To facilitate the cleaning of the mechanism, a hand held 24 is provided in the side of tank 10 directly underneath shield 21 and closed by cover 25. Said cover may be re moved and access thereby obtained toport 12 for the purpose of cleaning, or for breaking up any lumps of material that may be accumulated at that point.

-In casea large or heavy abrasive material is employed, such as lead shot, it hasbeen necessary to decrease the size of the outlet port due to the weight of the material directly supported thereby. By the use of the present invention the usual port may be employed, the weight of the shot being largely I carried by shield 21. It is thus possible to use the same size outletit'or various'kinds of abrasive material, and to accurately control the supply of the abrasive to the mixing chamber.

Although this invention has been shown and described as applied to a particular type 01" shield in connection with a specific abrasive storing tank, it is not to be limited thereto, as various other types and shapes of shield may be employed. The invention may be appliedto other types of tanks in which it is desired to equalize the pressure upon an outlet nozzle when varying quantities of material are placed within the tank. A sand blast system has been described for convenience, but'any other abrasive material may be employed in connection with the above apparatus, if desired. The scope of the invention is defined bythe following claims.

What is-claimed is:

1. In combinationwith a material supply tank having an outlet port, means comprising a shield interposed between said port and the material in said tank,said shield partially enclosing the port and supporting a portion of the weight of said material,

while leavingthe new of said material through said port substantially unimpeded.

2. In combination with a sand blast tank having an outlet port, a U-'shaped shield attached to the wall of said tank near its lower extremity, said shield being extended to cover and partially enclose said outlet port, whereby the entire weight of the material above said port is prevented from be-. 'ing applied thereto. y

3. A sand blast tank including an outlet In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. V

' LOUIS D. PEIK. 

